Trolley-pole catcher.



PATBNTBD APR. 30, 1907.

J. H. WALKER. TROLLEY POLE CATCHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1906.

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INVENTOH JOHN H.WALKER ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS Pznns co, WASHINGTON, n c

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PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

JOHN H.

J. H. WALKER. TR'OLLEY POLE OATGHBR.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 27 1906 W/ N SSES A TTOHNE Y8 nu: NORRIS PETERSca, wunnvcrou, 04 c.

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TROLLEY-POLE CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed June 27,1906. Serial No. 323,622.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY WALKER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Pole Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in trolley pole catchers, andparticularly in that class of such devices illustrated by my formerpatent No. 787,810, issued April 18, 1905; and the present inventionrelates to certain improvements in the track rail and in the carrieroperating thereon; and the invention consists in certain novelconstructions and combinations of parts as ill be hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of anapparatus embodying my invention in which the dog of the carrier .isadjusted clear of the rack so the carrier may slide freely back andforth along the track. Fig. 2 is a detail side view, the cover beingremoved, of a portion of the track with the carrier in place and withthe dog and the supplemental catch adjusted. into engagement with therack to lock the carrier from movement toward the trolley stand. Fig. 3is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the carrier adjusted back to theposition in which the supplemental catch engages in the salety notch atthe outer end of the track. Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe carrier, the cover being removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on aboutline 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. (3 is a horizontal section drawn through thecarrier cover above the supplemental catch, and Fig. 7 is a transversesection of the cover on about line 77 of Fig. 6.

In the present construction the carrier comprises a body A, a rocker B,and when desired, a cover C for protecting the body and rocker andattached parts 'l'rom' the weather, dust and the like. The body A isslotted longitudinally at A forming a pas sage for the track D so thecarrier may slide back and forth along the track. The slot is formed inthe bottom of the body A and the top wall A of the slot rests upon theupper edge of the track D, while a strip E dove tailed in the body A atthe base of the slot A forms a bearing to slide along the lower edge ofthe track D, as will be understood from An opening A leads through thetop of the body A into the slot A and all'ords a passage for the wickextending from the waste F which is suitably oiled and is held within abox G fitted in a suitable recess in the top of the body A, and isprovided with a spout 9 through which the waste in the form ol a wickpasses, as shown in Fig. 4, and the box G has springs G by which it issteadied in place when inserted, as shown in Fig. 6. This constructionoperates to lubricate the track and facilitates the sliding oi" thecarrier thereon.

The body A is provided on its upper side with an upwardly projectingblock or portion A through which passes the bolt A forming a pivot onwhich the rocker B tilts in adjusting the said rocker to and from theposition in which it sets the dog into engagement with the track andinto and out of position for freeing the supplemental catch presentlydescribed from engagement with the rack. This portion A also forms aguide through which is passed a rod II which is movable longitudinally.is actuated in such direction by a spring II, and is provided with astud II preferably in the form of a threaded bolt so it may be adjustedas desired, and which engages with a bearing H in the form of a pin orbolt on the rocker B, the purpose of such construction being to hold therocker B yieldingly when adjusted to either of the positions shown inFigs. 2 and I of the drawings. Thus, when the rocker is adjusted to theposition shown in Fig. 2 the stud I-I engaging below the bearing II willprevent the accidental shifting of the rocker to the position shown inFig. I, while when the rocker is in the posi tion shown in Fig. 4 itwill he held by the stud from accidental shifting as shown in Fig. 2.If, however, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4-, thetrolley pole slips from the wire, the bearing II will be actuated by theforce of upward movement of the trolley pole past the stud H to theposition shown in Fig. 2, and the dog will engage with the rack on thelower edge of the track bar, and if the trolley pole be pulled downsuddenly the action will force the rocker back to the position shown inFig. 4, in which the bearing II will engage beneath the point of thestud. The spring actuated rod H with its stud or point H thus operatesas a means for holding the dog presently described, in engagement withthe track, and also as a means for holding the dog out of suchengagement, according to the adjustments of the rocker.

The dog I is carried at the lower front end of the rocker B, and thesupplemental catch J is carried at the upper rear end of the body A, andmeans are provided whereby the rocker when adjusted to position to freethe dog from engagement with the rack will also hold the supplementalcatch out of engagement with the track, this being shown in Fig. 1, andbeing more fully described hereinafter.

The track D is provided in its lower edge with a series of notches D,and in its upper edge with a series of notches D and at the rear endthereof with a safety notch d. The lower notches D are to receive thepoint of the dog I, which dog is pivoted between its ends at I to therocker B at the lower front end of said rocker, the dog having arearwardly projecting tail-piece 1 which operates by engagement with thepoints of the teeth formed by the notches D to throw the point I of thedog positively into engagement with the teeth formed at the lower edgeof the rack as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, across-pin i see Figs. 1 and 4, limiting the upward movement of thetail-piece of the dog and holding the said part so it will engage withthe points of the teeth on the track D, and throw the point of the doginto engagement with the teeth when the parts are adjusted to theposition shown in Fig. 2. At the same time when the rocker is in theposition shown in Fig. 4, the tail piece will be held out of engagementwith the rl'i ack teeth, as will be understood from said Thesupplemental catch J is pivoted at J to the upper rear end of the bodyA, and may drop by gravity into engagement with the notches D and d whenfree to do so, but I prefer to provide a spring J to aid in actuatingthe supplemental catch to secure a prompt operation thereof when the dogis released, and permit it to lower to the position shown in Fig. 2 orto the position shown in Fig. 3, according to the location of thecarrier upon the track. When the rocker is in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 4, the catch J is held out of engagement with the track bymeans of one or more pins J which are movable vertically in the' body A,engaging at their upper ends below the catch J, and are in position attheir lower ends for engagement by the rear end of the rocker B, so saidrocker when tilted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 will lift thecatch J, and hold'it out of engagement with the track. Thus the rockeroperates when in position to hold its dog clear of the track to lift thecatch so it will not impede the free movement of the carrier back andforth along the track. At the same time, however, when the dog isadjusted into engagement with the track the rocker moves out ofengagement with the pins J and they supplemental catch is dropped intoengagement with the top rack forming a safety bolt L connecting it withthe dog so the trolley pole when moving either down or up will gain somespeed of movement before it operates the rocker so that the rods L willoperate upon the rocker with a hammer stroke which Will aid in adjustingthe bearing H of the rocker out of engagement with the stud.

It is in some instances desirable to move the trolley pole down flatupon the top of a car, in which case it is ordinarily tied down but thesupplemental catch operating in the safety notch D may be utilized tohold the trolley pole in its lowered position. In such operation itbecomes necessary to tilt the rocker downwardly at its rear end torelieve the safety catch, and this is effected by means of a tongue orextension I) at the rear end of the rocker moving into engagement with apivoted cam M at the rear end of the track D. This cam M has an inclinededge M which when engaged by the extension I) will force said extensiondown thus moving the rocker out of engagement with the pins J andpermitting the supplemental catch to drop into the safety notch 11, asshown in Fig. 3. The plate M is pivoted at M in such manner that it isrigid as against rearward movement from the position shown in Fig. 3,but when it is desired to release the trolley pole after it has beenlowered, a slight fur ther downward movement of the trolley pole willforce the tongue I) in rear of the cam M, and said cam will rock whenthe carrier is moved forward to the position indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 3, and the carrier may be moved freely forward, the pressure ofthe rod L on the front end of the rocker tilting the rocker down at itsfront end so its dog I will be clear of the rack and the rear end of therocker will lift the supplemental catch so it will ride free of thenotches in the upper end of the track, as will be understood from thedrawing.

It may be desirable to incase the carrier, and I prefer to do this bymeans of the cover C in the form of a case fitting over the carrier andslotted in its front edge at C and in its rear edge at C for the passageof the track D, and provided with the upright ribs C near its rear endto fit alongside the rear edge of the body portion of the carrier, thecover being extended at C in rear of the rib C to properly house thesupplemental catch, as

will be understood from Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

In operation when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 thetrolley pole may be held down or permitted to rise without interferencewith the carrier, the latter sliding freely along the track. If,however, the trolley pole should escape from its wire the initial upwardmovement of the trolley pole will cause the rocker to tilt from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the slottedconstruction of the trolley pole facilitating such operation by thehammer action above described. This will throw the dog up and permit thesupplemental catch J to engage with the track and prevent the upwardmovement of the trolley pole. Then when it is desired to re-apply thetrolley pole to the wire, the sudden downward movement of the trolleypole will readjust the rocker to the position shown in Fig. 1, settingthe dog out of engagement with the track and lifting the supplementalcatch from said engagement and the trolley pole may be manipulated asdesired.

I claim 1. The combination substantially as described, of a track havingits upper and lower edges notched, the trolley pole, the carrier havinga body portion sliding along the track and provided above the track witha supplemental catch for cooperating with the top notches, a pin or pinsextending through the body portion and engaging with the supplementalcatch, and a rocker pivoted to the body portion and extending below theposition to operate said pin or pins, a spring actuated rod extendinglongitudinally above the track and having a stud, a bearing on therocker for engagement by said stud, a dog pivoted between its ends tothe rocker and having its front end or point arranged to cooperate withthe notches in the lower edge of the track and its rear portion or tailpiece to engage with the track and adjust the said front end or pointinto locking engagement with the track, a tongue at the rear end of therocker, and a cam pivoted to the track for engagement by said tongue.

The combination with a trolley pole and a track, of a carrier slidingthereon and having a body portion and a rocker pivoted thereto andprovided with a dog for engagement with the traclgand a rod extending between the rocker and the trolley pole and having a sliding connectionwith the one of said parts whereby it may operate with a hammer action.

3. The combination with a trolley pole and a track, of a carrier slidingon the track and having a body portion and a rocker pivoted thereto,connectionsbetween the rocker and trolley pole, a dog on the rocker foren gagement with the track, a supplemental catch on the body portion forengagement with the track, and means for freeing the supplemental catchfrom engagement with the track.

-il.. In an apparatus substantially as described, a carrier comprising abody portion, a rocker, a dog carried by the rocker, a supplementalcatch carried by the body portion, and means whereby the rocker whenadjusted to position. to free the dog may also adjust the supplementalcatch. to neutral position.

5. The combination with the track, of a carrier sliding thereon andhaving a body portion and a rocker pivoted thereto, a dog carried by therocker and movable therewith into and out of position to engage thetrack, a catch carried by the body portion, and means whereby the rockermay adjust the supplemental catch to neutral position when the dog ismoved out of engagement with the track.

6. In a trolley pole catcher, the combination with a track having asafety notch, of a carrier movable on the track and having a bodyportion provided with a supplemental catch to enter the safety notch,and a rocker pivotedto the body portion and having a rearwardlyprojecting tongue, means whereby the rocker when raised at its rear endmay move the supplemental catch out of the safety notch, and means atthe rear end of the track for operating upon the tongue of the rocker todepress the rear end of the rocker.

7. The combination with a track, of a car rier movable thereon andhaving a body portion provided with a supplemental catch and a rockerprovided with a dog, intermediate devices between the rocker andsupplemental catch whereby the rocker may adjust the latter to neutralposition, and a cam plate pivoted to the track in position forengagement by the rear end of the rocker whereby to depress the same,the cam plat-e being pivoted to swing freely in a direction toward thecarrier.

S. The combination in a trolley pole catcher of a track having a rack atits upper edge and a rack at its lower edge, the carrier sliding alongthe track and having a body portion and a rocker pivoted thereto, a dogpivoted to the rocker for engagement with the lower rack of the track,and a catch pivoted to the body portion for engagement with the top rackof the track.

9. The combination of a trolley pole, a track extending longitudinallytherefrom, a carrier sliding along the track and having a body portionand a rocker pivoted thereto and provided with means for engagement withthe track to lock the trolley against upward movement on its suddenescape from the wire, and a supplemental catch on the body portion forengagement with the track.

10. The combination in a trolley pole catcher of a carrier having a bodyportion, a

rocker pivoted thereto and provided with a dog and a supplemental catchpivoted to the body portion and having a portion projecting in rearthereof and a cover fitting over the carrier and having its oppositeends slotted for the passage of a track bar, and provided on its innerside with upright ribs fitting along the rear edge of the body portionof the carrier and with a portion extending beyond said ribs forming ahousing for the supple mental catch.

11. The combination in a trolley pole catcher with the body portion of asliding carrier, of rocker pivoted between its front and rear endsthereto, a dog at the front end of the rocker, a supplemental catch atthe upper rear end of the body portion, and a pin extending through thebody portion and arranged at its upper end to engage beneath thesupplemental catch to lift the same and extending at its lower end intoposition to be operated by the rear end of the rocker.

12. The combination of a trolley pole, a track having its lower edgenotched forming teeth, a carrier movable along the track and having adog pivoted between its ends forming a front end or point for engagementwith the track and a rear end or tail piece to engage with the teeth ofthe track for throwing the point end into engagement therewith, andmeans whereby the initial upward movement of the trolley p l onescapement from the wire will throw t;- iog into engagement With thetrack to lock atrolley pole against further upward moven nt;

13. The combination ina carrier for trolley pole catchers of the ho lyportion having a longitudinal passage ilor track bar, and a rod movablelongitudinally in the body por tion above said passage and provided atone end with a presser poi: t, a spring actuating said rodlongitudinally, and a rocker having a dog for engagement with the trackbar, said rocker being. pivoted to the top portion and provided with abearing for engagement bylthe presser point of said spring actuated IO{14. The combination with the trolley pole and track bar extendinglongitudinally therefrom, of a carrier sliding on the track bar andconnected with the trolley pole for operation thereby, a catch on thecarrier for engagement with the track bar when the trolley pole ispulled down to the car, means on the carrier for releasing said catchunder certain conditions, and means on the track bar for restrainingsaid catch releasing means from releasing the catch.

JOHN HENRY l/VALKER.

Vvitnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TUB-PIN.

